Instep-arch support



I Dec; 25, 1928.

J. T. WOOD INSTEP ARCH SUPPORT Filed Dec.. 1926 INVENTDH.

JTZZ/Md.

Patented Dec. 25, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrics.

INSTEP-ARCH; SUPPORT. I

Application filed December 2,1926, Serial No. 152,189, and in Canada April 29, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements in arch supporters of the type employing an arch plate of thin sheet metal curved longitudinally to form a spring arch, and curved transversely at the inner side to tend to maintain the inner edge of the arch plate cover in an upwardly curved position.

In the present application I show the arch plate without any transverse curve whatever and employ a padding between the arch plate and the cover, which like the cover extends materially beyond the inner edge of the arch plate and contacts with the curved inner edge of the arch plate cover.

The pad tapers in thickness towards each end, and its upper surface adjacent the forward end is convex in contour. The pad also decreases in thickness from the edge of the arch plate towards its upper edge at the inner side.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of my iIIIPI'OW-Bd supporter;

Fig. 2 a side elevation of the same, partly in section; and

3 a cross section showing the device in position in a left shoe.

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

1 is an arch plate which is longitudinally curved to follow the arch of the wearers foot and which transversely is straight, so that there is no interference with its longitudinal resiliency. This plate is preferably formed of light gauge spring steel on which is superimposed a pad 2, preferably of felt, which follows the longitudinal contours of the arch plate and is stiff enough to retain its shape when not in use. This pad tapers in thickness towards each end and its upper surface adjacent the forward end is convex in "contour, this being the preferable shape under the metatarsal bones. The pad at the inner side of the device extends materially beyond the inner edge of the arch plate and is curved upwardly. Over this pad is secured, by means of rivets 7, a leather cover 3, which contacts with the upper surface of the felt pad and also extends at the inner side materially beyond the inner edge of the arch plate. It also curves upwardly following the contours of the upper surface of the pad and is also preferably skived to a feather edge. The pad itself has its under surface curved in cross section to a curve of shorter radius than its upper surface and is also skived to a feather edge. There is thus formedbeneath the upwardly curved inner side of the leather cover a supporting pad which is of considerable thickness adjacent the arch plate, but which gradually decreases in thickness towards its upper edge. The extending parts of the pad and leather cover possess but a moderate degree of stiffness and in use are maintained in their proper Shape and position by contact with the upper of the shoe, which may be laced as tightly as may be necessary to draw the upper into firm cont-act with the upwardly extending part of the pad. Thus when the device is in use the pad forms a cushion between the leather cover and the upper of the shoe.

The arch plate is spring supported in any suitable manner and preferably by a spring or springs having bearings with the sole or insole of the shoe at or adjacent the ends of the shank. I spring members 4 and 5, but one may be omitted if the device is worn by someone of light weight.

4 is a spring leaf secured to the arch plate 1, preferably intermediate'of its ends. While the arch plate and spring leaf might be permitted to contact directly with the insole of the shoe, I prefer to employ the spring plate 5 which is riveted or otherwise secured at one end to one end of the arch plate, preferably the rear end. The forward end of this spring plate is made of suflicient size to be contacted both by the forward end of the spring leaf and the forward end of the arch plate. The arch supporter is thus supported by parts of the shoe which contact with the ground so that there is no danger of spring ing down the shank of the shoe.

Over the plate 5 I secure a thin ply ofleather, preferably raw hide, which serves as a cushion between the metal parts to soften the spring action and to prevent wear and noise.

From the construction described it is evident that a resilient support is provided for the instep of the wearers foot, and that the shaping of the arch plate cover to the foot is obtained without sacrificing the resiliency of the metal parts. As the whole device may be made of thin sheet spring metal of high grade, it may be made very light without sacrificing strength and the device will not be liable to deformation when long in use, which is the show for this purposetwo surface of the upwardly curved side-of the leather cover so as to form a cushion between the upper of the wearers shoe and theleather cover; a spring support for the arch plate adapted to engage the insole of the shoe at oppositeends of the insteplcomprising a spring leaf ofsheet metal secured to the arch plate;

and a spring plate secured at one end to the arch plateand extendingunder the device past the end of the spring leaf and the arch plate, said-sheet metal base plate being adapted to engage the-insole of the shoe only at opposite ends of the instep, the central part of said base plate-normally tending to lie spaced from the spring support and thus forming a second-support.

Signed at Toronto, Can. this 26th day of November, 1926.

JONATHAN T. WOOD. 

